Now for Seeing Sideways....
STOP TURNING THE MONITOR THAT WAY AND LISTEN! D8<
Class was once again...something. We were given the task of coming up for the task of another group but being as random as it was (which is not unusually for this class) I had no idea what the fuck was going on or what to really contribute. In the end, I just laughed with everyone else as we were figuring out ways to more or less troll the group before us. The results were of course this;
Group 1- You guys have to come up with a list of movie quotes and act them out!
US- Oh yeah, well you have to do it FIRST! >83
And it spiraled out of control from there.
Wow, we suck as organizers.
Aside from the sheer randomness that was once again this class, one thing stood out; FISHBOWLS.
FISHBOWLS!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?! TELL ME WHAT IT MEANS!
Let's just say that everyone has a fishbowl and while some might consider it a form of entrapment and self-limitation what do you think would happen if the glass were to break...and there was nothing surrounding the fish but air?
Sudden death, right?
....Or a slow, painful one since fish don't exactly die INSTANTLY the moment they touch air.
Whether you get it or not, and I'm not too sure if I get it myself, fishbowls seem to be symbolic and stand for an area in which we find ourselves able to grow and improve. Perhaps its like a comfort and safe-zone where with limited interuptions, we can work in peace...or something like that. I watched the entire presentation and I'm still not sure if I get it or if I wanted to throw my boot at the screen.
Also, fishbowl is the new it word. Say it bitches. SAY IT! ITS COOLZ
Monday, January 23, 2012
To Compete...or not to compete....
I wasn't in class on Thursday on account of getting my teeth chipped, pried and pulled from my skull (crossing my fingers that everything is healing well) so I wasn't able to get the legist of the assignment 100% but I'll try my best with the description on Oncourse;
Competition...it something that people are often either want to ignore or something that people always want to bring to the forefront since they find it to be a very important faction of their lives. For the most part, it seems as kids we're always told the same mantra that it doesn't matter how you win or lose, but its how you compete that determines who is the winner...but thinking this, how does the way one compete determine the outcome of certain things?
In our lives, we are always competing, if not for the top spot on something then for something smaller; perhaps to be the first to get that good seat in the theater so you won't be blocked by the asshat who is still wearing his ballcap and blocking your view. In the workforce, people often compete by attempting to be as productive as they can in order to gain a better position. Groups and teams compete against each other for various things but having said all of this, is competition important? Does it play a role in team building?
I would have to give a rather large YES to both but I would also like to add in the notion that while competition is good, one thing we shouldn't do is let it get to our heads. What's that saying; too much of a good thing leads to a bad thing? Think of it like that. Competition in itself is not a bad thing and can be used as a tool to do positive things but when it leads to obsession, people can get clouded and forget the main goal. When this happens, the need and want to win at all cost seems to rear it ugly head and begins to wear away at the notion of simply striving to make yourself BETTER. How can you better yourself when your need and want for competition gets to the points where it becomes destructive and detrimental to not only yourself but those you surround yourself with.
Perhaps this is the egotism that comes into play that makes the entire notion of 'competition' bring bad thoughts into people's heads. Some people want to avoid competition because they might feel its an unfair way of judging someone against another, as if showing off what they can or can't do would somehow be destructive. If competition was being used in a NEGATIVE way, it can be viewed that way but again, that is if the actions in question are being used as a vehicle to just show off, not as something that actually helps people learn, experience, and grow.
Competition in team building isn't a bad thing either, so long as its not used as a melee and turns people against each other. Remember that scene in 'The Dark Knight' where the Joker tells the gang members that there is only room for ONE person on his team and he gives them that broken pool cue as a means of 'deciding' who was going to be on the team; yeah, let's use that as a melee and BAD example of competition.
Of course, if that were being used an any real life example, I'm pretty sure someone would be arrested.
IMMEDIATELY.
Honestly, I find that competition is a good thing but there are two sides of it that seem to get on everyone's nerves;
First there is the Condescending Competition- The type of competition where you're constantly reminded that you shouldn't do your best since that would be unfair to someone else....but that means they also can't do their best since that means they may do better than you so EVERYONE has to perform at a level that the person in charge thinks would be the least offensive....but in the end, it forces everyone to stay at a level below their capability, simply to prevent anyone for feeling bad when in truth, that might not even be an issues, especially if its a situation isn't that bad and everyone isn't going to wail on each other no matter who wins.
Second, there is the Melee Competition- The type of competition where everyone is basically an asshole to each other in order to win. This is seen in rowdy sports events, schools where the teachers don't give a fuck and right now, its happening with me on ebay because I'm trying to win a bid on something I want and I'm sick of finding the same thing for 100 bucks and the only offer that has it for 45 has some ASSHOLE WHO KEEPS GOING UP A DOLLAR NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I BID!
I should keep the ebay stuff out of this.
So in the end, competition is an animal we all must face but it is one that we should not avoid nor be afraid of. The best thing we should do is more or less know how to deal with it when put in a situation where the competition is tough, not simply because of our own abilities, but because of how the situation is put before us whether its because we're forced to stunt ourselves for some reason or because the competition grows unruly because of people care only about getting ahead.
Competition can be such a strange animal.
Competition...it something that people are often either want to ignore or something that people always want to bring to the forefront since they find it to be a very important faction of their lives. For the most part, it seems as kids we're always told the same mantra that it doesn't matter how you win or lose, but its how you compete that determines who is the winner...but thinking this, how does the way one compete determine the outcome of certain things?
In our lives, we are always competing, if not for the top spot on something then for something smaller; perhaps to be the first to get that good seat in the theater so you won't be blocked by the asshat who is still wearing his ballcap and blocking your view. In the workforce, people often compete by attempting to be as productive as they can in order to gain a better position. Groups and teams compete against each other for various things but having said all of this, is competition important? Does it play a role in team building?
I would have to give a rather large YES to both but I would also like to add in the notion that while competition is good, one thing we shouldn't do is let it get to our heads. What's that saying; too much of a good thing leads to a bad thing? Think of it like that. Competition in itself is not a bad thing and can be used as a tool to do positive things but when it leads to obsession, people can get clouded and forget the main goal. When this happens, the need and want to win at all cost seems to rear it ugly head and begins to wear away at the notion of simply striving to make yourself BETTER. How can you better yourself when your need and want for competition gets to the points where it becomes destructive and detrimental to not only yourself but those you surround yourself with.
Perhaps this is the egotism that comes into play that makes the entire notion of 'competition' bring bad thoughts into people's heads. Some people want to avoid competition because they might feel its an unfair way of judging someone against another, as if showing off what they can or can't do would somehow be destructive. If competition was being used in a NEGATIVE way, it can be viewed that way but again, that is if the actions in question are being used as a vehicle to just show off, not as something that actually helps people learn, experience, and grow.
Competition in team building isn't a bad thing either, so long as its not used as a melee and turns people against each other. Remember that scene in 'The Dark Knight' where the Joker tells the gang members that there is only room for ONE person on his team and he gives them that broken pool cue as a means of 'deciding' who was going to be on the team; yeah, let's use that as a melee and BAD example of competition.
Of course, if that were being used an any real life example, I'm pretty sure someone would be arrested.
IMMEDIATELY.
Honestly, I find that competition is a good thing but there are two sides of it that seem to get on everyone's nerves;
First there is the Condescending Competition- The type of competition where you're constantly reminded that you shouldn't do your best since that would be unfair to someone else....but that means they also can't do their best since that means they may do better than you so EVERYONE has to perform at a level that the person in charge thinks would be the least offensive....but in the end, it forces everyone to stay at a level below their capability, simply to prevent anyone for feeling bad when in truth, that might not even be an issues, especially if its a situation isn't that bad and everyone isn't going to wail on each other no matter who wins.
Second, there is the Melee Competition- The type of competition where everyone is basically an asshole to each other in order to win. This is seen in rowdy sports events, schools where the teachers don't give a fuck and right now, its happening with me on ebay because I'm trying to win a bid on something I want and I'm sick of finding the same thing for 100 bucks and the only offer that has it for 45 has some ASSHOLE WHO KEEPS GOING UP A DOLLAR NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I BID!
I should keep the ebay stuff out of this.
So in the end, competition is an animal we all must face but it is one that we should not avoid nor be afraid of. The best thing we should do is more or less know how to deal with it when put in a situation where the competition is tough, not simply because of our own abilities, but because of how the situation is put before us whether its because we're forced to stunt ourselves for some reason or because the competition grows unruly because of people care only about getting ahead.
Competition can be such a strange animal.
Bear in a Jar! Bear in a Jar! Its a Bear in a Jar!
:|
IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO STUPID.
Well, for those of you who are going to be in class later, I'm sure you'll get a better view but for the time being, this is what you'll have to deal with. See, this is why I should have used my ol' HP camera. The photos it takes are WAY better than this even if that thing is nearing 12 years old. Man, I love that thing but its kinda clunky and my laptop doesn't have a port for the card.
Getting back on track, this was my Seeing Sideways assignment. Something stupid and small but it did make use of the bead that Beth gave us! I can only hope that its not as stupid as it seems but only time will tell, eh?
I will updates wit da news once I get everything together and turn this thing in.
How this thing came into being;
Originally, I was going to use my bead as some sort of weird balance thing using ice and string but considering that class is at three, it would have been too late to attempt the trick since...
ice+time+heat+no freezer= FAIL. EPIC FAIL.
So I was scratching my brain for new ideas. As I was sitting in my bed recovering from the pains of having my teeth taken out and looping out from the meds, I was thinking 'Oh shit....snow globes. Those things are so fucking awesome....'
And then it hit me.
SNOW-GLOBE!
But wait, what would the point be? If I just put the bead in a jar of water, that would be...a cop-out. I needed more. Considering I was in too much pain to go out and but specific things, I knew I had to make due with what I had at home and being the pack-rat that I am, I had plenty and an idea came to me.
Something small and cute + bead + glitter= DAW.
The problem was finding something small enough to fit within the jar I found. Most of the figures were the correct height...just not the correct WIDTH. Some thing were too wide which prevented me from screwing the cap on correctly. Running out of ideas, I looked over to my bedside and realized that I had an entire plethora of items to use...
JAPANESE ERASERS!
Yes...I am a nerd.
Looking through my collection, I found the PERFECT figure to go into the globe; a small, chubby hamster who was the right size as well as posed the right way to hold the bead as if it were some sort of magical orb. After gathering up my supplies and my brain which by this time was so loopy I was SHAKING, I began to work.
Adhesive? Check.
Hamster? Check.
Bead? Check.
Jar? Check.
Glitter?
A little too much but CHECK.
And the hamster in the orb was BORN...er, made!
Again, I went a TAD overboard with the glitter but the plus side of that is that it actually TINTED THE WATER which I did not expect it to do. If I had known that was going to happen, I would have opted for the blue glitter which would have given the water a more appropirate tint....but nonetheless, we have ourselves one of the oddest things I have ever made. I sacrificed one of my fave erasers for this but it was worth it.
I hope it was worth it. :P
Monday, January 16, 2012
Working with Table and Chairs...because I forgot.
I'm too lazy to make an edit? Shame on me.
How did the team building work for last week? Well, let's just say that I really hope I don't get maimed in the course of the class considering the 'building' we had to do.
I had no idea what to do. Spontantous things, at least when working with a large group of people who know what to do while I DON'T, doesn't work for me. Most of the time I was wondering that in the world to do and I felt more like a chicken going around with nothing better to do. I just needed guidance and didn't want to fuck up anything which I feel I often do.
Anyway, with all that gushing out of the way, here were the other things I forgot to mention in my previous post;
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*What is a group?*
A group is a collection of people who may or may not be tasked with completing a job, assignment. I say MAY simply because not all groups are composed souly based on getting 'work' done. A social group might not take part in work.
“Why groups?”
Because as people, we find it easier to think and view people based on what groups we put them in as opposed to viewing a person one-on-one. Yes, there are some UNFORTUNATE IMPLICATIONS that can come from this but from a less negative point of view, a teacher can view her students in a group (if she puts them in groups) to see how they work and how to organize them. In a positive way, a group can be used to see who works together in the best way.
*What is a team?*
A collection of people who have been grouped together in a way that plays to their strengths and must work together in order to achieve their goals. There are no random choices or groupings in team since they have to work in a way to ensure that everything functions correctly.
*What is the difference between a team and a group?*
A group might be;
*made up on the fly and consist of people who do not know each other.
*composed of people who despite being put together have greatly opposing views
A team might be;
*made up of individuals who are often going for the same goal
*made up of people who share similar views and talents
*made up of people who at the time MUST work together to ensure they succeed
How did the team building work for last week? Well, let's just say that I really hope I don't get maimed in the course of the class considering the 'building' we had to do.
I had no idea what to do. Spontantous things, at least when working with a large group of people who know what to do while I DON'T, doesn't work for me. Most of the time I was wondering that in the world to do and I felt more like a chicken going around with nothing better to do. I just needed guidance and didn't want to fuck up anything which I feel I often do.
Anyway, with all that gushing out of the way, here were the other things I forgot to mention in my previous post;
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*What is a group?*
A group is a collection of people who may or may not be tasked with completing a job, assignment. I say MAY simply because not all groups are composed souly based on getting 'work' done. A social group might not take part in work.
“Why groups?”
Because as people, we find it easier to think and view people based on what groups we put them in as opposed to viewing a person one-on-one. Yes, there are some UNFORTUNATE IMPLICATIONS that can come from this but from a less negative point of view, a teacher can view her students in a group (if she puts them in groups) to see how they work and how to organize them. In a positive way, a group can be used to see who works together in the best way.
*What is a team?*
A collection of people who have been grouped together in a way that plays to their strengths and must work together in order to achieve their goals. There are no random choices or groupings in team since they have to work in a way to ensure that everything functions correctly.
*What is the difference between a team and a group?*
A group might be;
*made up on the fly and consist of people who do not know each other.
*composed of people who despite being put together have greatly opposing views
A team might be;
*made up of individuals who are often going for the same goal
*made up of people who share similar views and talents
*made up of people who at the time MUST work together to ensure they succeed
I hate scrapping my brain for things I'm not sure of. *head desk*
Ow....my face hurts.
Now for those who I would work well with~~
I....I do not know and I hate doing things like this because I find it kind of invasive. Oh yeah, the chick who writes 'OH GOD THIS SHIT SUCKS! #$UTHJEITH' all of her blog doesn't like to pick people out?
Well, no. I DON'T, especially when reading the blogs I can't get a reading on ANYONE. Its like asking someone to tell you the taste of something based on looking at the PICTURE of the food instead of actually eating it; I have to actually work with these people to finally make up my mind on who I feel comfortable working with.
And 'sides, it doesn't seem like anyone wants to work with me anyway. Gee, I wonder WHY? :P
Now for those who I would work well with~~
I....I do not know and I hate doing things like this because I find it kind of invasive. Oh yeah, the chick who writes 'OH GOD THIS SHIT SUCKS! #$UTHJEITH' all of her blog doesn't like to pick people out?
Well, no. I DON'T, especially when reading the blogs I can't get a reading on ANYONE. Its like asking someone to tell you the taste of something based on looking at the PICTURE of the food instead of actually eating it; I have to actually work with these people to finally make up my mind on who I feel comfortable working with.
And 'sides, it doesn't seem like anyone wants to work with me anyway. Gee, I wonder WHY? :P
The best and the worst? Do I really have to relive this?
Now that I got the tale of my teeth out of the way...on to the REAL assignment.
OUCH.
For those that know me well enough, I...don't particularly like group activities. Not that I have anything against working with groups but from my past experiences, I equate group work to people wanting me (us...the group) to act like god-damn circus chimps for stupid shit. Granted, I found that my best group work came from those that had ideas that were not based on evaluating people as if they were lab rats but stuff that really accomplished things.
So to say, I have a lot of bad group experience, from working with people who, if I were to time travel to the past would probably falcon punch in the face for being rude little gits to organizers who were, to put it frank, snobbish butt-holes who seemed to enjoy watching us lesser children from dA PubLiK SkooLZ do their shit and act like it was for charity...
But having said that, there have been some good group work that I have done...but the bad still out-weighs the good. :|
Okay, okay, I'll stop being such a downer but in order to do that, I WILL have to start with the bad first, only to end this post with something upbeat and truthfully, it IS upbeat if not surprisingly simple for what it is.
Okay, the bad and since I really don't like to dive too deep in the past, I will start with something recent and does not involve people from this school who will hunt me down if they find this post;
In June, I was desperate for work which is something that I always am. Because I can't drive (I suffer from seizures. Yeah FUCKING heredity, you screwed me over again) I wanted something that was close enough to commute using Indygo. Since I often frequent our local malls, I decided to apply for nearly all the stores that were there. Now, there are FOUR malls I walked the halls of (no naming) and they all have plenty of outlets and opening to go for....now tell me, why the FUCK did only ONE place in ONE mall reply?
I don't know but I took the offer at the drop of a hat and by that Sunday, I was ready for the interview. Now, as a person who has gone to countless 'Teen management career sessions' (another fucking waste of time and another source of bad group experiences) I have had the notion that in order to get the job, you have to look IMMACULATE. That is what they taught us...but there I was, the only person dressed in business attire while everyone else was dressed in beat-up sandles, tees, ripped jeans and the works...
I could foresee that this wasn't going to end well.
Well, the 'interviews' were all group based, with us standing in the store and talking with the manager of the store....but then....the group work began.
Now, this is a RETAIL STORE. They sell clothing, equipment, and other things. In that line of work, when the FUCK will you need to get into a group and come up with shitty songs based on what the group name is? WHEN? NEVER. Here I am, plopped in this group and forced to come up with lyrics on the fly just because I want a fucking job so I can get some fucking money to pay for utilities and other shit and FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
Okay, I'm sorry. I just remembered how crap this group experience was and it wasn't because of the people I was paired up with; they were great...even that guy who's number I should have asked for...but nonetheless, the entire ordeal itself was DEGRADING. I have had group interviews for jobs in the past but even those were MUCH more professional and even when I didn't get the job, I didn't feel bad since I was like 'Oh, damn. That sucks but at least they were nice and told me about the company.'
THIS....shit was the absolute WORST and embarrassing situation I had EVER been in. It doesn't help that I don't like to be around people unless its NECESSARY (you know, for like SCHOOL and JOBS which are important.) but to have to act like a total ASS in front of people I don't even know, IN HEELS, was the worst. Making up lyrics, coming up with other shit....and I still didn't get the fucking job?
FUCK YOU STORE THAT WILL REMAIN NAMELESS EVEN THOUGH I STILL GO TO THE ONE IN THE OTHER LOCATION BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY WELL MANAGED.
There are a lot of other bad experiences in my life concerning GROUPS but this by far was the worst, simply because unlike those OTHER experiences, I didn't get anything good out of this. In those other experiences, they might have been BAD but I either learned something, conversed with people and came out feeling god despite what happened. THIS was nothing but shit. I know I am swearing a LOT for an assignment blog but sorry, I have to to fully express how humiliating that experience was. Fuck, I'm getting PISSED RIGHT THE FUCK NOW reliving it since it wasn't even that long ago!
Hiring methods like that should be a CRIME; it really should be. Anyone who thinks that sort of method for hiring works should be smacked upside the head with a book. They should...HAVE THEIR BACK TEETH CHIPPED LIKE MINE SO THEY CAN-!
I need to stop.
Okay...the bad time is over. I have to move into my happy place now. Happy place! Calmness...calm...
Okay.
NOW FOR THE GOOD.
Like I said, my bad...outweighs the good but there have been some GOOD group experiences I've had. Out of random and sheer hilarity, we're going to take a trip many many years ago back when I was a wee high-schooler and not as much of a shrill, violent, nut that I am now.
This actually took place over a span of several hours and was the result of bad planning on the school part but it all came down....like THIS;
The sophomores were scheduled to take a class trip to the IRT for one of our weekly plays but unfortunetly, bad planning meant that we had come on the wrong day. Now, rather than have the ENTIRE class return to school, our teachers were like 'Fuck this. We're not going back to school!' and decided to have us remain down town for the rest of the day. Of course, we were like 'Oh hell no! Its hot, we don't want to walk on this concrete, we want to go back to class!' but in the end, the teachers (of course) won out and we were given another assigment and another trip.
So we were put into groups and assigned to look up things down at the museum at the Soilders and Sailors Monument. A'course, I had never been in the place before. Hell, I've been here all my life and I didn't know there was a fucking museum there until that moment. What made this group experience fun was the fact that we made the best of the situation that we were given. It was apparent that we didn't want to do the assignment but we also didn't want to get yelled at by our teachers for NOT doing it correctly.
So what do a bunch of your highschool students do with an assignment they must do but don't want to?
Why, do it our way of course!
We were instructed to look at certain parts of the museum which we did....all the while a friend of mine kept reminding us that thanks to the layout of the building, we were basically stepping on the 'graves' of war dead.
Friend: Hey, Meredith! You're stepping on that guy's grave! Stop being so inconsiderate!
Me: I am NOT! Now shut up so we can get this stuff done!
Friend: *singing* I'm stepping on someone's grave, someone's grave, someone's grave! *repeat*
Me: :(
And this went on and on and on....but guess what?
We got the assignment done.....AND WE GOT AN A.
HELL YEAHZ!
There were a lot of other things that happened, such as us watching a movie and doing our own MST3K riffing on it, me buying postcards and the rest of the group writing our own fake letters on the back but all in all, we were able to work together with something we did not like yet we still passed. If that is not a good example of a group project, I don't know.
Well, wait...I do know....doing the same thing and getting MONEY for our effort....but this was school, not work so that didn't count back then. And did I not say it was simple? It was a SCHOOL assignment yet it turned into one of the funniest things that had happened all year as well as being a group project.
So what have we learned from all of this?
1- Group projects can either suck or be funny.
2- Sometimes we shouldn't expect the worst from group projects....even though it might turn out bad anyway.
3- When in doubt start singing about dancing on a fake grave.
I think the moral of these tales have been told. Here's hoping that any other group project will be more like the latter and not of the former.
*Drinks wine*
Oh wait, that's not good for my teeth. Ow.
OUCH.
For those that know me well enough, I...don't particularly like group activities. Not that I have anything against working with groups but from my past experiences, I equate group work to people wanting me (us...the group) to act like god-damn circus chimps for stupid shit. Granted, I found that my best group work came from those that had ideas that were not based on evaluating people as if they were lab rats but stuff that really accomplished things.
So to say, I have a lot of bad group experience, from working with people who, if I were to time travel to the past would probably falcon punch in the face for being rude little gits to organizers who were, to put it frank, snobbish butt-holes who seemed to enjoy watching us lesser children from dA PubLiK SkooLZ do their shit and act like it was for charity...
But having said that, there have been some good group work that I have done...but the bad still out-weighs the good. :|
Okay, okay, I'll stop being such a downer but in order to do that, I WILL have to start with the bad first, only to end this post with something upbeat and truthfully, it IS upbeat if not surprisingly simple for what it is.
Okay, the bad and since I really don't like to dive too deep in the past, I will start with something recent and does not involve people from this school who will hunt me down if they find this post;
In June, I was desperate for work which is something that I always am. Because I can't drive (I suffer from seizures. Yeah FUCKING heredity, you screwed me over again) I wanted something that was close enough to commute using Indygo. Since I often frequent our local malls, I decided to apply for nearly all the stores that were there. Now, there are FOUR malls I walked the halls of (no naming) and they all have plenty of outlets and opening to go for....now tell me, why the FUCK did only ONE place in ONE mall reply?
I don't know but I took the offer at the drop of a hat and by that Sunday, I was ready for the interview. Now, as a person who has gone to countless 'Teen management career sessions' (another fucking waste of time and another source of bad group experiences) I have had the notion that in order to get the job, you have to look IMMACULATE. That is what they taught us...but there I was, the only person dressed in business attire while everyone else was dressed in beat-up sandles, tees, ripped jeans and the works...
I could foresee that this wasn't going to end well.
Well, the 'interviews' were all group based, with us standing in the store and talking with the manager of the store....but then....the group work began.
Now, this is a RETAIL STORE. They sell clothing, equipment, and other things. In that line of work, when the FUCK will you need to get into a group and come up with shitty songs based on what the group name is? WHEN? NEVER. Here I am, plopped in this group and forced to come up with lyrics on the fly just because I want a fucking job so I can get some fucking money to pay for utilities and other shit and FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
Okay, I'm sorry. I just remembered how crap this group experience was and it wasn't because of the people I was paired up with; they were great...even that guy who's number I should have asked for...but nonetheless, the entire ordeal itself was DEGRADING. I have had group interviews for jobs in the past but even those were MUCH more professional and even when I didn't get the job, I didn't feel bad since I was like 'Oh, damn. That sucks but at least they were nice and told me about the company.'
THIS....shit was the absolute WORST and embarrassing situation I had EVER been in. It doesn't help that I don't like to be around people unless its NECESSARY (you know, for like SCHOOL and JOBS which are important.) but to have to act like a total ASS in front of people I don't even know, IN HEELS, was the worst. Making up lyrics, coming up with other shit....and I still didn't get the fucking job?
FUCK YOU STORE THAT WILL REMAIN NAMELESS EVEN THOUGH I STILL GO TO THE ONE IN THE OTHER LOCATION BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY WELL MANAGED.
There are a lot of other bad experiences in my life concerning GROUPS but this by far was the worst, simply because unlike those OTHER experiences, I didn't get anything good out of this. In those other experiences, they might have been BAD but I either learned something, conversed with people and came out feeling god despite what happened. THIS was nothing but shit. I know I am swearing a LOT for an assignment blog but sorry, I have to to fully express how humiliating that experience was. Fuck, I'm getting PISSED RIGHT THE FUCK NOW reliving it since it wasn't even that long ago!
Hiring methods like that should be a CRIME; it really should be. Anyone who thinks that sort of method for hiring works should be smacked upside the head with a book. They should...HAVE THEIR BACK TEETH CHIPPED LIKE MINE SO THEY CAN-!
I need to stop.
Okay...the bad time is over. I have to move into my happy place now. Happy place! Calmness...calm...
Okay.
NOW FOR THE GOOD.
Like I said, my bad...outweighs the good but there have been some GOOD group experiences I've had. Out of random and sheer hilarity, we're going to take a trip many many years ago back when I was a wee high-schooler and not as much of a shrill, violent, nut that I am now.
This actually took place over a span of several hours and was the result of bad planning on the school part but it all came down....like THIS;
The sophomores were scheduled to take a class trip to the IRT for one of our weekly plays but unfortunetly, bad planning meant that we had come on the wrong day. Now, rather than have the ENTIRE class return to school, our teachers were like 'Fuck this. We're not going back to school!' and decided to have us remain down town for the rest of the day. Of course, we were like 'Oh hell no! Its hot, we don't want to walk on this concrete, we want to go back to class!' but in the end, the teachers (of course) won out and we were given another assigment and another trip.
So we were put into groups and assigned to look up things down at the museum at the Soilders and Sailors Monument. A'course, I had never been in the place before. Hell, I've been here all my life and I didn't know there was a fucking museum there until that moment. What made this group experience fun was the fact that we made the best of the situation that we were given. It was apparent that we didn't want to do the assignment but we also didn't want to get yelled at by our teachers for NOT doing it correctly.
So what do a bunch of your highschool students do with an assignment they must do but don't want to?
Why, do it our way of course!
We were instructed to look at certain parts of the museum which we did....all the while a friend of mine kept reminding us that thanks to the layout of the building, we were basically stepping on the 'graves' of war dead.
Friend: Hey, Meredith! You're stepping on that guy's grave! Stop being so inconsiderate!
Me: I am NOT! Now shut up so we can get this stuff done!
Friend: *singing* I'm stepping on someone's grave, someone's grave, someone's grave! *repeat*
Me: :(
And this went on and on and on....but guess what?
We got the assignment done.....AND WE GOT AN A.
HELL YEAHZ!
There were a lot of other things that happened, such as us watching a movie and doing our own MST3K riffing on it, me buying postcards and the rest of the group writing our own fake letters on the back but all in all, we were able to work together with something we did not like yet we still passed. If that is not a good example of a group project, I don't know.
Well, wait...I do know....doing the same thing and getting MONEY for our effort....but this was school, not work so that didn't count back then. And did I not say it was simple? It was a SCHOOL assignment yet it turned into one of the funniest things that had happened all year as well as being a group project.
So what have we learned from all of this?
1- Group projects can either suck or be funny.
2- Sometimes we shouldn't expect the worst from group projects....even though it might turn out bad anyway.
I think the moral of these tales have been told. Here's hoping that any other group project will be more like the latter and not of the former.
*Drinks wine*
Oh wait, that's not good for my teeth. Ow.
Tales of the Terrible Teeth
What's worse than having a broken two due to something that happened which will remain at this time to myself?
Having TWO broken teeth.
*Sigh* All I can say is that this weekend has been a nightmare but I should be thankful for what injuries I have, I am not in as much pain as I SHOULD be. Fascinating isn't it? If my situation with the my teeth were not bad enough, so is finding a place where I can have them extracted. Problem is, I found a place but now situations at home will probably delay that appointment to find something that is more 'affordable' or in my case, an office that will actually do the job as appointed and not have me come in, wait a week, and THEN have my teeth repaired. This has been one major headache, no pun intended, but I hope to get this fixed by the end of the week simply because I really do refuse to wait any longer; not for the dentist and not for my mother who is also giving me a headache about waiting or then making me change crap just AFTER I had them scheduled. I might have to postpone an appointment again because of this crap which doesn't help considering I'm really sick of getting yelled at, making an appointment like I was supposed to, then being told to cancel it AFTER I made the appointment and then getting yelled at for getting annoyed for having to call people back four or five times just because someone else is getting frantic.
The teeth are in my head, I have to pay with MY money and I have to sit in the chair and deal with the pain. I think I at least have SOME word in this, especially since I had found the perfect day that didn't interfere with school THAT much....but oh no, I have to call again and again and again either because the first place was too expensive or the other place was too far or the other place was too weird or because there might be a blizzard on that day or...
.....
I think having the teeth pulled will be less painful than scheduling the appointment. :|
I just want this all done and taken care of for the sake of getting the teeth out, my mouth finally free of any annoyances and just to get everyone to SHUT. UP. Its bad enough we couldn't get things fixed on the DAY OF, but when I can't even make a decent appointment based on stupid shit, I might as well take them out myself.
END. RAGE.
Having TWO broken teeth.
*Sigh* All I can say is that this weekend has been a nightmare but I should be thankful for what injuries I have, I am not in as much pain as I SHOULD be. Fascinating isn't it? If my situation with the my teeth were not bad enough, so is finding a place where I can have them extracted. Problem is, I found a place but now situations at home will probably delay that appointment to find something that is more 'affordable' or in my case, an office that will actually do the job as appointed and not have me come in, wait a week, and THEN have my teeth repaired. This has been one major headache, no pun intended, but I hope to get this fixed by the end of the week simply because I really do refuse to wait any longer; not for the dentist and not for my mother who is also giving me a headache about waiting or then making me change crap just AFTER I had them scheduled. I might have to postpone an appointment again because of this crap which doesn't help considering I'm really sick of getting yelled at, making an appointment like I was supposed to, then being told to cancel it AFTER I made the appointment and then getting yelled at for getting annoyed for having to call people back four or five times just because someone else is getting frantic.
The teeth are in my head, I have to pay with MY money and I have to sit in the chair and deal with the pain. I think I at least have SOME word in this, especially since I had found the perfect day that didn't interfere with school THAT much....but oh no, I have to call again and again and again either because the first place was too expensive or the other place was too far or the other place was too weird or because there might be a blizzard on that day or...
.....
I think having the teeth pulled will be less painful than scheduling the appointment. :|
I just want this all done and taken care of for the sake of getting the teeth out, my mouth finally free of any annoyances and just to get everyone to SHUT. UP. Its bad enough we couldn't get things fixed on the DAY OF, but when I can't even make a decent appointment based on stupid shit, I might as well take them out myself.
END. RAGE.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
My bead looks like ice....and my second assigment
Ya know, I've been looking at my bead for the past hour and just realized that it looked like ice. That has to be the most random thing I've thought of for...the past five minuets.
I really need to get focused.
Anyway, this is day...THREE of the new semester. I've had to deal with money, a class being cancelled at the last minuet and not showing up on Oncourse DESPITE being listed on Onestart and various other LOVELY things.
I love the way 2012 is starting to shape up, don't the rest of you feel the love as well?
Anyway, for my next assigment, I have been given this questionair sheet. I'm going to be honest; I hate stuff like this. Why? Well, mainly because I feel like half the time I have to fake everything I say, through the urge of not being too honest with certain questions. Think about it like this USELESS questions you're always asked when you're filling out a job application. You know you have the creditials and the skills yet people still have the gall to ask you something like 'If your best friend was being eaten alive by rabid badgers, would you consider yourself passive about the situation?' What? I'm trying to get a job so I can keep food in my fridge and the utilities on! I think the last thing on my mind would be 'Gee, I wonder what I would do if my friends and I ran into some rabid badgers! That is SUCH a big issue today!'
But seeing as this is an assignment and I need to keep my butt in school, I can at least take this more seriously than the questionairs or the circus monkey antics that I've had to do in the process of doing job applications that had similar formats. Let's see how much damage I can do to my social life with this;
I really need to get focused.
Anyway, this is day...THREE of the new semester. I've had to deal with money, a class being cancelled at the last minuet and not showing up on Oncourse DESPITE being listed on Onestart and various other LOVELY things.
I love the way 2012 is starting to shape up, don't the rest of you feel the love as well?
Anyway, for my next assigment, I have been given this questionair sheet. I'm going to be honest; I hate stuff like this. Why? Well, mainly because I feel like half the time I have to fake everything I say, through the urge of not being too honest with certain questions. Think about it like this USELESS questions you're always asked when you're filling out a job application. You know you have the creditials and the skills yet people still have the gall to ask you something like 'If your best friend was being eaten alive by rabid badgers, would you consider yourself passive about the situation?' What? I'm trying to get a job so I can keep food in my fridge and the utilities on! I think the last thing on my mind would be 'Gee, I wonder what I would do if my friends and I ran into some rabid badgers! That is SUCH a big issue today!'
But seeing as this is an assignment and I need to keep my butt in school, I can at least take this more seriously than the questionairs or the circus monkey antics that I've had to do in the process of doing job applications that had similar formats. Let's see how much damage I can do to my social life with this;
- What is your favorite thing to do outside of school?
Unless I am swampped with homework, which I would attempt to do once I get home, I like to draw, read, or work on any project that is in my mind at the time. Of course when I hit a really bad wall/art block, I waste time online trying to find any sort of way to get myself back on course. This hardly works sometimes.
- What is your favorite class and explain why it is your favorite?
At this moment I do not have a favorite class, at least for this semester. However, I found that my comic classes were enjoyable as were my oil painting classes. Basically anything that gives me the excuse to continue to draw, even when I have fits of rage and feel that I suck while working on something.
- What are you good at doing in New Media?
I really couldn't tell. One of the biggest but most simple things I want to do better with Photoshop is digital coloring but I always feel the urge I'm doing something wrong in the process of it.
- What are you good at doing outside of New Media?
Again, its hard to say. Drawing? Writing? I guess it just depends on the situation.
- What is your favorite area of New Media (you don't have to be good at it, but you have to like whatever you talk about for this one?)
Using Photoshop and Illustrator even though I don't use the programs as much as I should. Its a shame really...
- Do you prefer to work independently or in a group? Please explain why.
Again, it depends on the project and the situation. I am willing to work in a group but I feel better working by myself if only for an extreme sense of shyness sometimes.
- What New Media classes have you had?
Aside from a Photoshop and Illustrator class, I have taken film, sound, basic web design and guess what? I suck at all but two of them yet I'm on a track that isn't about them! I guess interested in film despite knowing my way through it a lot more. I don't know, I just like drawing and illustrating more which is probably why I'm better working with traditional mediums. My life goals, I am so confused!
- In a group project explain what you usually end up doing.
I usually end up going along with everyone and doing my part depending on what the project is.
- In a perfect group what would you like to end up working on? (i.e. hands-on work, research, presentation, web development, planning, etc.)
Probably research and hands-on work.
- What is your opinion of group work? Please explain why.
Group work can be good but I have had bad examples, ranging from people not showing up, to people not doing their portion of the work and so on.
- How do you think other people would describe you?
I have no idea but I only hope its in a positive manner.
- How would you describe yourself?
Someone who needs to get out more and stop downing myself.
- What do you do when a group project goes bad?
Help the other members pad out the project to at least have something to turn in then. After that, I feel like locking myself in a closet out of rage.
- What is civic engagement in your opinion?
Being able to converse with people in a manner that does not result in people tossing each other into tables. In other words, simply being able to talk and work with people.
- What experience have you had working with community partners, either on your own, through school, church, or in any other capacity?
- What do you know about Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB?)
- How do you think New Media (the program and all its resources) could help the community in general, and KIB in particular?
- How could YOU help the community, and KIB, particularly in terms of New Media?
- What are your goals for this semester?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
EMPLOYED IN SOMETHING I ENJOY.
....
I WANT to get my projects out in the public...but at this point, I just hope I can get anywhere I can enjoy.
And ladies and gentlemen....is my assignment. *head desk* Such fail, so much fail...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Looking two ways at once since 1986~!
The primary usage for this blog is for class....yes, CLASS.
Let's see how long this thing survives once the semester is over.
Have I tried making blogs before? Yes. Have the failed? YES. I guess I'm just not the blogging type, mainly because I feel that as someone who leads such a pathetically boring life, there really is no reason to create a digital archive of crap that no one really cares about. I mean, I have a Facebook, a deviantART account, and a Tumblr which is SLOWLY growing; isn't that enough? Who knows. Hopefully this semester will cause me to get off my lazy, self-pitying butt and actually do something for a change.
This class, Seeing Sideways, seems interesting enough and it has to be considering that it took me about two semesters to finally get into this thing. Even from the way Beth (our instructor) described it had me going 'What....'
....
But I think the biggest reason I was feeling that was the combination of;
a) Lack of sleep
b) Worrying about another class WHICH by the way I just found out was CANCELLED (Thanks Onestart for NOT! telling me until the day OF)
c) My personal 'FFFFFF!' rage at Ebay at the moment concerning a certain series of figures that I just got into and bidding wars.
See, I have a lot of stupid shit on my mind, and only about 45% of it is what it should be on. The rest just wants to pass out in bed and do other stupid shit that frankly, no one cares about. If I somehow was able to make a clone of myself, my other self wouldn't be interested. :|
But no...getting back on track. CLASS. CLAAAASS....
I have a bead, something I know I'm probably going to lose, and I have to do something with it. Like the spaztic person I am, I could only think of stupid things but hey, maybe one of those STUPID things will work. I need sleep....sleep might allow my brain to rest so I can actually think correctly for a change.
Let's see how long this thing survives once the semester is over.
Have I tried making blogs before? Yes. Have the failed? YES. I guess I'm just not the blogging type, mainly because I feel that as someone who leads such a pathetically boring life, there really is no reason to create a digital archive of crap that no one really cares about. I mean, I have a Facebook, a deviantART account, and a Tumblr which is SLOWLY growing; isn't that enough? Who knows. Hopefully this semester will cause me to get off my lazy, self-pitying butt and actually do something for a change.
This class, Seeing Sideways, seems interesting enough and it has to be considering that it took me about two semesters to finally get into this thing. Even from the way Beth (our instructor) described it had me going 'What....'
....
But I think the biggest reason I was feeling that was the combination of;
a) Lack of sleep
b) Worrying about another class WHICH by the way I just found out was CANCELLED (Thanks Onestart for NOT! telling me until the day OF)
c) My personal 'FFFFFF!' rage at Ebay at the moment concerning a certain series of figures that I just got into and bidding wars.
See, I have a lot of stupid shit on my mind, and only about 45% of it is what it should be on. The rest just wants to pass out in bed and do other stupid shit that frankly, no one cares about. If I somehow was able to make a clone of myself, my other self wouldn't be interested. :|
But no...getting back on track. CLASS. CLAAAASS....
I have a bead, something I know I'm probably going to lose, and I have to do something with it. Like the spaztic person I am, I could only think of stupid things but hey, maybe one of those STUPID things will work. I need sleep....sleep might allow my brain to rest so I can actually think correctly for a change.
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